Everyone at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School knows the Herdmans. There's one in each grade-they smoke, steal, blow things up, and terrorize the other kids. So when the fourth grade assignment for the year is to write compliments for each student in the class, Beth knows it will be hard to find something good to say about Imogene Herdman. Despite the chaos they cause, though, the Herdmans' plans also have an uncanny knack for turning out right. When Beth finally sees Imogene do something worthy of a compliment, she is surprised by both the kindness of her act and the gentleness of this dirty, ragged girl. Barbara Robinson has written books for children that have won many awards, including an ALA Notable. In The Best School Year Ever, she portrays a family of modern-day outlaws who are so eccentric and so real that young listeners will be glad that they are confined to the pages of a book.